“I should get out of here too. I've got a compound to run. I don't know how you've kept your sanity running this place all these years, beautiful.”
“Who says I'm sane,” she replied cheekily.
“Cheeky woman,” he laughed and pulled her in for a kiss. “Try to relax while Rafe sleeps. Enjoy this time with him, beautiful. I don't think he's going to be with us much longer.”
“I know. That's why I don't want to leave his side even for a minute,” she admitted.
“Then don't, beautiful. I'll take care of everything.” He kissed her again and tucked her into bed then left to see to the day's business of running the compound.
Chapter Fourteen
Kaia
“It’s time babe,” Rafe said weakly. It had been two days since their middle-of-the-night sexcapades and Rafe was still drained from the strain.
Kaia turned to him. “Time?” She swallowed. She knew what he meant. It was time for him to say goodbye to everyone. Their people had been giving them their privacy, but it wasn’t fair of Kaia to keep Rafe to herself. He was loved by everyone. “Okay,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
She sent word out and soon people began to stream into the room to see him. Kaia sat quietly at Rafe’s side, holding his hand, while members of their community said their goodbyes.
“It’s not going to be the same without you,” Tala said gently.
“You’ll help keep my girl out of trouble, won’t you?” Rafe asked.
Tala laughed and wiped at her tears. “I’ll try,” she said and left.
When Aimee came in she was already sniffling. “It’s not fair,” she said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I know, little bit, but what can we do?” he replied, covering his mouth when he began coughing.
Aimee waited until he was done before she continued. “You and Baz, you’re the only fathers I know. I don’t remember my real father, not really. All I really remember about him is that he was tall and he had blonde hair, like me. I got my eyes from my mom. But you and Baz, you're my dads. And my children won’t get to know the amazing man that you are,” she said as tears streaked down her cheeks.
“Oh, little bit, you have no idea how much it means to me to hear you say that you think of me that way,” Rafe told her. “I might not be here in person, but I’ll be here in spirit to watch over you and them. Always. I love you, little bit, like you were my own daughter.”
“I love you too, Rafe.” She leaned down and hugged him then kissed his cheek. “I’m gonna miss you so much, but I promise I’ll watch out for Kaia. I won’t let her do anything stupid once you’re gone,” she whispered into his ear.
“Thanks, little bit. I’m worried about her.”
“Me too,” she admitted. “All right, I’ll let someone else have a turn saying goodbye,” she said, kissing his cheek again and getting up.
Tuck came over then. “I’m not good with the emotional shit. You took me in ten years ago, treated me like family from day one, and I’ll never forget that for as long as I live. I’ll watch over your family for you now that you won’t be here to do it yourself.”
“I appreciate that, Tuck.”
“May Olene ease your passing into the afterlife,” Tuck said. Then he put his arm around Aimee and escorted her out of the room.
Throughout the rest of the day people came in to say their goodbyes and Kaia sat there letting her tears flow. Rafe, too, shed tears. But it wasn’t all tears. There was laughter too at remembered times. By the time the last person left, Kaia was emotionally drained. She curled around Rafe’s frail body and rested her head on his chest. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too babe. Thank you. I know that wasn’t easy for you.”
“No, it wasn’t, but you were right, it was time. They all needed that. They all needed to say goodbye to you.” She sniffled. “I don’t want to say goodbye yet,” she whispered.
“I know you don’t babe. Neither do I.”
“Neither do I,” Baz and Shar said, coming in and hearing the end of their conversation.
“So, today was a rough day, huh?” Baz said as they joined Rafe and Kaia on the bed.
“Yeah. Everyone came to say their goodbyes to Rafe. It was…emotional,” Kaia admitted.
